{"product_id":"montana-a-state-guide-book-american-guide-classic-wpa-guide","title":"Montana: A State Guide Book (American Guide) - Classic WPA Guide","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of Montana: A State Guide Book the reviewer finds a valuable historical reference best suited to readers interested in regional history, travel lore, and Great Depression era scholarship. Compiled under the Works Project Administration and written by the Federal Writers' Project, this volume is praised for its sweeping survey of Montana's places, people, and institutions. The single biggest reason to buy is its status as a primary example of the American Guide Series, offering original contemporary research and narrative detail that modern summaries often omit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAmerican Guide Series origin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Provides the unique benefit of being part of the federal effort that produced comprehensive state guides during the 1930s, preserving contemporary observations and data.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWorks Project Administration production:\u003c\/strong\u003e Reflects government-supported scholarship of the Depression era, useful for researchers seeking primary-source perspectives on 1930s Montana.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFederal Writers' Project authorship:\u003c\/strong\u003e Delivers writing by hired writers who compiled local histories, folklore, and travel information not widely recorded elsewhere.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDepth of local detail:\u003c\/strong\u003e Includes place-based descriptions and cultural notes that enrich understanding of Montana communities and landscapes of the period.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLibrary-worth volume:\u003c\/strong\u003e Acts as a foundational reference that complements modern histories and fills gaps in state and local collections.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eScholars of American history, librarians building a state collection, and readers who enjoy historical travel literature will find this guide particularly useful. The book is written in the context of the 1930s, so it serves well as a primary historical document rather than a current travel planner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThose seeking contemporary maps, current travel logistics, or modern demographic statistics should look elsewhere, because the strength of this volume is its historical perspective and original WPA-era research rather than up-to-date practical details.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePreserves first-hand, era-specific accounts from the Federal Writers' Project that are hard to find in later summaries.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvides broad coverage of Montana's towns, industries, and cultural notes within a single comprehensive volume.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eActs as a durable reference for libraries and researchers interested in New Deal cultural programs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial is historical and not intended as a modern travel guide, so current practical information is absent.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMontana: A State Guide Book\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSeries\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAmerican Guide Series\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProduced by\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWorks Project Administration\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthorship\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFederal Writers' Project\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEra\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGreat Depression, 1930s\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntended use\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHistorical reference and state guide\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMontana: A State Guide Book is a recommended purchase for history enthusiasts, librarians, and researchers who value original WPA-era documentation. Its status as part of the American Guide Series makes it a distinctive and cost-effective way to access contemporary 1930s reporting on Montana, even though it is not a substitute for modern travel guides.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this guide suitable for modern travel planning?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe guide is historical in nature and best used for research; it does not provide current travel logistics or up-to-date maps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho compiled the content of this book?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eContent was compiled by writers hired under the Federal Writers' Project as part of the Works Project Administration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy is this volume important to libraries?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is an original American Guide Series volume that preserves 1930s research and local accounts, making it a core piece of state and local collections.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Federal Writers' Project (Fwp), Works Project Administration (Wpa)","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48223767167195,"sku":"0403021766","price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/61JF_5kzgoL._SL1360.jpg?v=1770291521","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/montana-a-state-guide-book-american-guide-classic-wpa-guide","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}